stabbing puh-weens

In case the title doesn't make sense, view the following clip, and let it enlighten you.


Livia participated in this way:
And only for about 5 minutes (just enough time to eat all the cheese) then she was done and went to bed.

We started (and later finished) gutting out Sam's pumpkin.
Apparently he doesn't like the squishiness of pumpkin innards...

Hence the pouty face when daddy stopped working on his....


Sam's completed puh-ween:
Mommy's:
Daddy's:

Livia's pumpkin gets to be behind the rose bush, since it's still just a pumpkin. (Boring!)

And the darkness sets in....

A few dark close-ups:
Sam's:
Mommy's:
Daddy's:


Happy Halloween!

fun with maggie

A couple of nights ago, Sam started playing with Maggie, and Livia decided to join in on the fun! She likes to play with Sam. And she likes to play with Maggie, but she usually doesn't get to play with them at the same time. We had lots of fun seeing them all play together.

follow ups

I believe the votes are in! (Some just told me over the phone too.) Here's what I have decided to do about Livia's Halloween costume. For the Ward Party this Saturday, she will be Cinderella. And for Halloween Night/Trick-or-Treating she will be a penguin.

Also, last week I said I was going to make Sam's and Livia's blogs private. I just did it, but I realized I don't have some of your email addresses! So you can send them to my email (ndsmurfy@yahoo.com) or just make a comment including your email. Thanks!

what to wear, what to wear....

This Saturday is our ward Halloween activity. I have 3 super cute costumes that Ronda is letting me borrow, but I can't decide what she should be this year.

Cinderella:
A penguin:
Or a kangaroo: (that's a joey in her pouch)

I need those whose opinions I value most (yes, that would be you) to take a vote to help me decide.
She can be something different for the ward activity and for Halloween, so if you really can't decide you can pick two of the three.
PS She doesn't like any of them! As I took the pictures she got progressively more ticked off! I was lucky to get her to smile in Cinderella's dress, but she is annoyed with anything on her head, whether it's a headband or a hood. So don't let that smile fool you because she hates them all!

Liv's latest method of transportation

So Livia has finally decided that scooting isn't the only way to get around. She still scoots most of the time, but for the last couple of weeks, she's been crawling more and more.



Please just ignore Sam's half-nudity issues!

how much do you like my kids? jk

I am not an awesome journaler. Not for myself, not for my kids, not for anyone. I started pretty good with a journal for Sam... and poor Livia, yeah, she doesn't even have one yet. As for my own journal, I'm very much a sporadic journaler. But since I've gotten into the world of blogging, I haven't felt so bad about my record keeping. (My family's journal is just way more public now!)
About a month and a half ago, my sister, Leesa, told me that she created a blog for each of her children, since she is even worse at journaling than me! I really liked her idea, so now both of my kids have their own blogs as well.
Maybe my blogging fans (please let me just think I have fans out there) have noticed that I have had a slight decrease in my blogging activity... well, I haven't, it's just being shared on more than one blog.
What I am getting at is this: if you are interested in hearing even more about two adorable kids, let me know... because I will soon be making their blogs private. Just email me and tell me you want to see them. (If you don't, I won't be offended! Some people just have kids I don't want to hear everything about either!)
If you are interested in checking them out, here are the links:
Sam
Livia

I will plan to make them private in a few days. Happy blogging!

tender hearts

Yesterday and today, I have felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my 2 sweet children. Maybe it was hearing the words at General Conference, maybe it was a softening of my own heart, or maybe I'm starting to see these 2 sweet spirits for the children of God that they really are.
I have had several moments that I have neared tears and I can't even express in words the joy I feel that I have been blessed and entrusted with these 2 beautiful angels.
I want to share a few moments, mostly so that I don't forget them, but you're welcome to read them and look for these special moments in your own families as well.

• Yesterday, Sam went outside to see if his friends could play. I wanted to watch to make sure he went inside his friend's house before I went back inside. As he was walking down the driveway, he turned back to look at me, and smiled, then blew me a kiss and smiled again. As he walked around the cul-de-sac, he occasionally looked back at me and smiled and waved.
  
• When I am sitting at the computer, Livia will scoot over to me, and pull herself up to stand beside me, and tell me lots of baby stories, and rest her head on my lap.
• Last night for Family Home Evening, Sam wanted to sing I am a Child of God. As he was singing the words, he sang with so much love and gusto, I could hardly play the piano, because I was so close to crying. It was so sweet to hear him sing such beautiful words.
• This morning, Livia took a shower with me. She just sat on the floor of the tub and played with toys. I looked down at her at one point and she was just laughing and splashing and loving life. I was filled with so much love and appreciation that she is my little girl. Then to top it off, she looked up at me and gave me a huge toothy grin.
• Sam and I played Dodge Bear yesterday. It consisted of each of us throwing a teddy bear at each other. It was so fun to watch him laugh and hide and throw and tell me every time I missed him, or when I was "so cwose!" to getting him.
• Livia loves to be in her walker, she can keep up with anyone as long as they are on the main level of the house. I love when she chases me around and 'talks' to me while I cook or do the dishes. It's even ok that her favorite word is da-da.
• A favorite game of Sam's is after we say our bedtime family prayer, he says to me (or Jason) "Guess what?" And we say, "What?" And he says, "I... wuv... my... MOMMY!" Or sometimes he'll say, "You're my favorite pal!" He will do it as many times as he can too.
• One of the highlights of my day is when I go into Livia's room to get her after she wakes up. When she sees me, she usually tries to hide in her blankets or at least tries to hide her face and then looks at me and smiles and does it again.
• I love asking Livia for kisses and then getting 'kisses' by her leaning her head in with her mouth wide open.
  

I'm realizing then when my heart is softened, anything they do can melt my heart. I just watched Livia hit her foot with her shoe like she was trying to put it on and I was so touched by her innocence and simplicity.
I am so blessed to have these children in my home and family. I am so grateful that I have a husband that is such a wonderful father to them. I truly am living the life I have always dreamed of living.

family pix

Last weekend, my friend, Serena, came down to visit me and she took some family pictures for us. She did an awesome job! She's the best! The kids aren't EVER too thrilled to get pictures taken, so considering what she had to work with, I am super impressed with the results!

Here are a few of my favorite shots:








Since these were all taken on Saturday, right before Livia's nap, Serena stayed the night so we could try again on Sunday. The family picture on the side of the blog is from Sunday. And so are these adorable ones of Livia. (Just click on Livia's name to see them since I don't want to upload all of them again!)

dog allergies

No, none of us are allergic to Maggie. I think she must be allergic to herself. Or maybe she ate a cat or something.



She came in from outside and just couldn't stop sneezing. She sneezed for about 20-30 minutes! It was quite humorous!



Yes, Livia did fall to the floor and bonk her head and she cried. For a long time.

birthday girl

I can't believe my baby is ONE today!



Happy Birthday sweet Livia!

bloomin' roses

I am not exactly the lady next door with a green thumb. Last spring we planted a few rose bushes in our yard... I honestly didn't think I would ever see any roses that weren't already on the bush when we planted them.
But I was wrong!
And I am so surprised at just how wrong I was!
I wouldn't call this a flourishing rose bush.... but it's definitely not DEAD!

Caramel Cinnamon Rolls

When my friend, Karie, saw that I had a bread machine, she sent me this fabulous recipe for caramel cinnamon rolls. The machine mixes the dough up for you so you just set it on the dough setting and it's nice and easy! Well, I gave 'em a try... and they passed my test! So I thought I would share what she so nicely shared!

Caramel Cinnamon Rolls:

Dough:
1 cup warm water (110 degrees f)
1 egg
3 cups bread flour
1/4 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons instant powdered milk
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
5 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon instant yeast


Caramel:
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup brown sugar

Filling:
1/2 cup butter, softened (for spreading)
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup brown sugar

Directions
1. Place water, egg, bread flour, white sugar, powdered milk, salt, 5 tablespoons butter and yeast in bread machine in the order suggested by the manufacturer. Select DOUGH setting, and turn machine on.
2. Meanwhile; in a small saucepan, melt 1/3 cup butter. Add 1/2 cup brown sugar and ice cream; bring to a boil, and cook for 2 minutes. Pour caramel into the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13 inch pan.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees c)
4. When machine has finished cycling remove dough from pan and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Pat dough into a rectangle. Spread with softened butter and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Crumble 1/2 cup brown sugar over the top. Roll up, and seal edge. Cut into 12 rolls, and place in prepared pan of caramel. allow to rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees c) for approximately 20 to 25, until golden brown.

An easy way to grease a pan is by using a plastic sandwich bag. Put your hand through and wipe the crisco on the pan, then throw away the baggie.










I learned from another friend that an easy way to cut the rolls is to use dental floss. Just place it under the big roll to where you want it cut, and cross the floss on top and pull tight until it cuts through. ( You don't have to tie the floss.)




And drum roll please...

Mmmmm, they were delicious! Thanks Karie!